Ryo Hirakawa’s move to Alpine as a test and reserve driver was overshadowed by the news that ex-Williams racer Franco Colapinto has been appointed for the same role on Thursday. Beyond obvious questions as to why Alpine chose to have three drivers for a position usually held by a single up-and-coming junior, its decision to hire 30-year-old Hirakawa was also curious.
In Colapinto it has a plug-and-play driver with recent F1 experience who can step in in case of an emergency, or if the early performance of rookie Jack Doohan proves unsatisfactory. Likewise, with Paul Aron, it has a chance to hone the talent of a youngster who performed exceptionally well in his rookie F2 season in 2024.
